Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Here is a brand new devotion for you.
Which Model?
As some of you �old timers� know one of my hobbies is building plastics models.
Up until recently I have built them straight from the box. Most turn out OK, but
now I have been added �extra� pieces from photo-etched and resin kits to enhance
the model. This makes the model look more like the real thing in miniature. Today I
was thinking about a model that I�m building right now, a M26 Recovery Vehicle. I
have two different kits to add to it. When it�s finished it will look great (I hope).
All
this made start to think about our Christian life. We have two models, the first is
�straight from the box� and other is the enhanced version.
The �Straight from the box� Christian does only what is necessary to keep their
faith alive. They go along to Church each Sunday, throw a couple bucks in the
collection. They might even have a minor role (if any) in the Church. Basically, they
are just paying lip service to the Lord. They are lukewarm. There is a warning
about this in Revelations 3:15-16 �I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.� (KJV). Pretty harsh words? When
you are cold, the Lord can convict you of your sin. When you�re hot, man, the
loser flees from you and the Lord uses you mightily.
If you are hot, then you are the enhance version. You have allowed the Lord to
work in your life to renew your mind as Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 �Therefore, I
urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good,
pleasing and perfect will.� The Lord has transformed you into a tool He can and
does use. He will build the best model you, you can be because you allow to work
in your life.
One of the ways I have found to allow this is to allow a man to speak into my life.
Sometimes his words are �harsh� because I do not want to hear them, but I know
that he speaks the truth and those issues must be dealt with in order for me to grow
as a Christian and as a man. He is a man I can trust, after all he is my Senior
Commander. I look back overs the years that I have allowed Paul to speak into my
life and I can major changes have taken place. I am not the man I used to be. I am
enhanced by the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. I know that Paul prays hard
before he speaks into my life and I am thankful for his faithfulness.
So what happens when you start to get enhanced? Firstly you get love and from
love comes joy and from joy, peace. From peace comes patience and from
patience come kindness, from kindness comes goodness and from goodness come
faithfulness. From faithfulness comes gentleness and gentleness produces self-
control. These are the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23. Against such
things there is no law. Have you ever wonder why they are called the �Fruits of the
Spirit�? It is because there is a bunch of them and they all come from the Vine,
which is Jesus.
So which model do you want to be, straight from the box or enhanced? It�s easy to
just �go with the flow�, but it takes real courage to be enhanced. It is a slow
process, but the reward is well worth it. What more could ask for than the Lord
saying to you when you stand before Him �Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master's happiness!� Amen.
There's a storm coming, our Storm.
PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO A DYING WORLD
Say to the captives, 'come out,' and those in darkness, 'Be free!'
Isaiah 49:9
Love in Jesus
Adrian Bonham aka Morning Light, The Larrikin
I looked to the heavens to where God dwells
I looked into my life to see he lives there as well.
Outpost 49
Hawkesbury Royal Rangers
Windsor, N.S.W.
Australia
F.C.F. 94
http://www.summit.net.au/~founder1/
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